For a few years in the 80’s Eleanor Joseph ran a very successful chocolate business. She had clients spanning from airlines to restaurants. However, when the recession hit near the end of that time her business began to decline. By the time she’d jumped ship in 1991 it was too late, she was $50,000 in debt reports FOX Business.
“It took me eight years, but everybody got paid,” she says. “And I said, ‘I will never do that again.’ ”
But of course, she has. She blames Shari for innocently instigating her latest venture, Eleanor Joseph Confections, which produces homemade chocolate truffles (including sugar-free versions) and wine medallions. It started as a part-time venture in Culver City, Calif., in 2004.
“My daughter has been working for the same entertainment firm in Beverly Hills for 20 years. Robert Goulet was appearing in South Pacific,” Joseph says, “and an agent presented Shari with a pair of house seats.” Joseph thanked the agent with a box of homemade truffles. His response: Does she sell them?
“That might not be a bad idea for when I retire,” reflected Joseph, who is now 72. Despite her previous bad experience, she wasn’t content to wait until retirement. Instead, she rented space at two separate confectionaries on a part-time basis for several years, until each one was sold. After that, her law offices used the truffles as corporate and holiday gifts until February 2009, when she “retired,” moved to Phoenix and started Eleanor Joseph Confections as a full-time endeavor.
Joseph credits ther local BNI chapter for much of her success to date in Arizona. “They helped me build the business. They referred me to a lot of different clients.” Her chocolates are sold at several Scottsdale retail stores and wineries, and she can be found at the farmer’s market on Saturdays from October through May. She also sells the confections online and, Joseph says, “We can ship all over the world.”
Photo from Eleanor Joseph Confections